The Lakers took care of business Tuesday night in Brooklyn, cruising to a 125-109 win over the Nets and improving to 30-19 on the season. It was a balanced effort from Los Angeles, led by LeBron James with 25 points and Luka Dončić right behind him with 24. The two stars controlled the tempo and made life difficult for a Brooklyn squad that continues to struggle, now sitting at 13-36.
But beyond the headliners, there was a small moment worth noting for Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht. The former Tennessee standout logged five minutes off the bench, finishing with four points and one assist on 2-of-5 shooting. He missed both of his three-point attempts, but the quick burst of offense showed flashes of the aggressive scoring mindset that made him a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Knecht’s journey to the NBA has been anything but conventional. After transferring from Northern Colorado to Tennessee, he made the most of his lone season in Knoxville, averaging 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
He was the driving force behind the Vols’ SEC regular-season title and helped push them to just their second Elite Eight appearance in program history. That kind of production - and poise in big moments - caught the attention of scouts and ultimately landed him in Los Angeles with the 17th overall pick.
Now, with the Lakers chasing playoff positioning in a crowded Western Conference, Knecht is working to carve out a role in a veteran-heavy rotation. His minutes may be limited for now, but every opportunity - even a five-minute stretch in a midseason game - is a chance to show he belongs.
Los Angeles will return home next, set to host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. EST, and with the Lakers starting to find their rhythm, all eyes will be on how this team continues to evolve down the stretch.